TULIP TUESDAY!

Post Easter Egg Hunt Portrait

Do like Ari's choice of hat? How 'bout all 3 dogs inserting themselves into the photo? This year The EB counted all the eggs and knew exactly how many each kid could find to make the hunting fair. Lelu was the best hunter and helped the little kids fill their quota. Poor D was not on his game and was actually the last one to finish. They all had eggs in their Easter baskets when they woke up, but one of Ari's was empty - leading B to believe "it must be full of luck" because it couldn't mean that The EB was tired and watching BladeRunner at midnight while filling them. There was a "golden egg" hidden on the hunt with a $10 bill in it and sure enough that empty egg WAS full of luck because Ari found the golden one. They all have really darling new Easter clothes that we were running late for church and didn't have time to snap a photo. Then D came home early and went to bed. The little kids changed really quickly after church to head out to dinner before WICKED. I soothed myself not having that photo because I've scheduled our first real family photo this summer and the girls are wearing those dresses, so when I send out a REAL family picture for my Christmas card this year, you won't have already seen their dresses. I know I have issues........

I bought tickets to Wicked back in December, everything sold out in a couple hours and I could only get 5. The plan was for B & the 4 little kids to go. D was way too miserable to go (that was his worst day), and he "wanted me to be home with him" pulling on my mommy heartstrings (I've seen it twice but I would see it every year if I could!) Aub just "had other plans" What?????- so Michelle T. must have had an Easter egg full of luck because she took D's ticket and enjoyed Wicked with B, Lelu & twins! They did not snap any photos of themselves for me, even though I begged them to and handed them the camera. I still haven't got over it:(

Happy in the Initial Post Wisdom Teeth Removal!

2 weeks ago, we had D scheduled to get his wisdom teeth removed, but I failed to remind him not to eat when he left for school - I erroneously figured that I was checking him out at 11:30, he wouldn't have eaten lunch yet. Nor did I ask him, but I wouldn't let him get a drink from the drinking fountain as we came in. You might have thought he would volunteer that he'd just ate. At least he told them as they were hooking him up. His lunch is at 10:50 - I should probably know that, but I didn't. He had proper teenage humiliation and quickly texted all friends to not bring him any get well treats. The following Thursday we returned with an empty tummy. They dug out his teeth and he was feeling realllly good on the way home, calling Emilie stammering out how great and easy it was "Oh and my mom thinks I might be really embarrassed about this phone call, do you think I'll be really embarrassed, I mean you could probably ask me anything right now" I could hear a lot of giggling. He had numerous friends bring him icees, ice cream, ice cream and more ice cream. It took him a couple days to be really miserable with B's stories of "I drove myself home. I went water skiing the next day. What's wrong with you?" He did manage to make it to an audition on Saturday, belt out 16 bars of "Go the Distance" and get a main part in the next Draper Theatre Production. It's all good.

Zach, Hanna and her Entourage!

These photos go with the post below!

I should be cleaning but I'd rather be blogging!

I am hosting my ward's book club tonight, so I really should be cleaning my house because I have a busy afternoon today. I just don't feel like it. I'll do a mad rush this evening. This week is spirit week at the kids school, which just means they can wear something other than their uniforms. Monday was pajamas, Tues was favorite sports team and today is superhero or celebrity day. I think Mr. T may need therapy when he gets older. We don't have any superhero costumes and Ari is Hannah Montana. She doesn't even need the wig (sparkly shirt, big earrings). Lelu is Gwyneth Paltrow wearing a Coldplay shirt, skinny jeans and big hoop earrings. While Mr. T was in the shower, I thought, he could be Zack Efron from HS Musical. I drew Wildcats on the front of a white t-shirt and Efron on the back with basketball shorts, his hair is kind of long too. When he got out of the shower, he informed me he hates Zack Efron with tears in his eyes. But Ari really wanted him to dress up and in her cute manipulative way kind of forced him to wear it. I told him he could just wear his uniform, but when Ari wants something from him - she has her ways of getting it. It may be a twin thing. He has assured me that his friends are going to laugh at him. I hope not. I have to go over to the school for yet ANOTHER project presentation! Can I complain enough about projects? I've resorted to paying Lelu to help them. In my defense, she loves doing project posters and is always asking to earn money. Mr. T reports on a whale shark and Ari a loggerhead turtle. I just hope Mr. T is distracted enough by his report presentation to forget about the humiliation of being a 7 yr old dressed like Zack Efron. I guess he's just popular with the girls not the boys? Who knew?

Our Snow Adventure!

D must always prove his manliness or craziness or teenageness or ??????

2 winters ago we snow shooed up to our shack dragging our sleds of stuff with the twins bawling and being carried most the way. I'm no martyr and swore never again! "If you want to go up in the winter - get us snowmobiles" So B reserved some for conference weekend. He told me to pray for at least 3 new storms and we got more than that. I now say be careful what you pray for! We ventured up on Saturday with me & Mr T trying to heal from sinus infections and bronchitis. According to B, "mountain air cures everything", but I'm inclined to think antibiotics take the credit.

See the snowmobiles? The are parked out on the road. That's because, snowmobiles aren't made for 5 feet of new snow. Neither of us knew that. They should be called trailmobiles because if you aren't on a previously packed down trail - you get stuck! 4 men digging out for 15 minutes is the fun you have. So then we hiked the stuff in from the road without snowshoes (okay so D hiked the stuff in). Then the toilet pipes froze & we had to use a bucket. Fun Stuff! (There's a reason I call it a shack!)I'm sure for B and the kids it was quite an adventure. I finished another book, built a one shouldered or pregnant snowman (depending on the angle) with Ari. There was plenty of snow but not the greatest for sledding because it was deep powder. A great workout for hiking back up in. We watched Sunday conference for the last time up there with rabbit ears, since June will make it so you have to have a digital box. Was it just me or did you think the theme was "Yeah, it's hard right now. But be of good cheer because it could be worse."? Tons of sad stories!

Now we have beautiful spring weather! Popcorn is popping on all the trees. I love it!